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Winner for Sept. 17: Is the real estate crash global?

The voting is closed.

This week, the top vote winner is a contrarian view on the real estate crash. A member asks, "are there any countries where real estate is booming, or is [the crash] a worldwide phenomenon?"

The obvious answer is that real estate is skyrocketing in Chinese cities, where rich locals are parking their money for lack of alternatives. GlobalPost did a series on this. But it's interesting to ask, where else is real estate booming, and why? 

Real estate is booming in Brazil, it turns out. Here's the story we published: Brazil's real estate boom.
Guest suggests:

The US real estate market has in the tank for a number of years now. Are there any countries where real estate is booming, or is this a worldwide phenomenon?
Guest suggests:

We haven't hear much lately about those pirates off the coast of Africa. Can you report on what actions America and the international community have taken to make the waters safe for shipping?
Matt@1913intel.com suggests:

There is some concern that China is experiencing a real estate bubble that may pop within the next year or two. Could this cause the Chinese economy to crash and possibly threaten the survival of the communist government?
Guest suggests:

What's the latest on the troop surge in Afghanistan? Is it working?
Diane Perkins suggests:

I have read commentators who say that one of the worst outcomes of the war in Iraq is that it has strengthened Iran in the Middle Eastern region. Is this the case and how do the states of the Middle East relate to one another? What are their relative strengths and weaknesses? What support are various Middle Eastern States receiving from oil powers like Saudi Arabia and what is the prognosis for this region after the US ceases "active combat" in Iraq and Afganastan?
Suzi J. Schaum suggests:

Since 9/11, one of the biggest questions about terroism has been, how is it financed? ('follow the money')Aside from governments, private groups, like charities, have been investigated.

The financing of terrorist groups has fueled fiction and news stories. My question - what part did the U.S. play in financing the 'troubles' in Ireland. It was much easier then to move money and weapons across the pond. Who were the groups that helped either side in the struggle?

Thank you.
Jessica Jenner suggests:

I'd like to second the idea from Diane Perkins.